Field Guide in Cambridge

Contract type: Antarctic Employment Pool - Fixed-Term Appointment - between 12 and 18 months. 7-month Austral summer contracts are available in exceptional circumstances.

Location: Antarctica

Interview Date: w/c 27th April 2026. Panel and practical interview in Cambridge.

Application requirement: Along with your CV you must upload a Climbing and Mountaineering CV. Failure to complete may result in the application not being considered.

Purpose

Field Guides will assist scientific colleagues carrying out research in the polar environment whilst ensuring all fieldwork and travel is carried out safely and efficiently. Extensive experience in alpine mountaineering and conservatively managing risk in remote environments is a prerequisite. A background instructing and guiding others in mountain environments and familiarity with expedition logistics are also desirable. Additionally, you’ll attend to duties including assisting aircraft operations, organising field camps, operating communications systems, delivering training and maintaining a broad range of equipment. Learning the Field Guide role and gaining appropriate polar experience takes time. We provide in‑depth training and support in all aspects of the role. This training begins in the UK and continues throughout your employment period. Because of the length of time required to learn the role, most applicants will be required to take an overwintering contract initially.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all field personnel and manage all hazards in the field where practicable.
• Ensure all field work is carried out safely and efficiently in accordance with the appropriate BAS procedures such as the travel regulations, the Field Operations Manual and other SOPs.
• Support scientific colleagues in their field work and assist in whatever way possible.
• In conjunction with the Field Operations Manager, ensure field parties have sufficient equipment and supplies for a safe and efficient field trip.
• Report major problems to the Field Operations Manager when they arise.
• Plan and ensure the safe and efficient movement of the field party.
• The organisation of field parties’ camp site.
• Ensure completion of daily radio schedules whilst in the field, reporting on the field parties’ status.
• Maintain equipment in the field including snowmobiles and generators where practical.
• Organise and staff forward operating bases, remote field camps and depots to provide direct and indirect support for aircraft operations.
• Deliver field training to staff, assess trainees’ abilities and maintain training records.
• Provide Search and Rescue cover for BAS field operations.
• Compile a report at the end of each season detailing events of the field trip, and other observations useful for future field operations.
• Work with other staff to ensure that the operational and safety standards of BAS field work are maintained or improved.
• Renovate and prepare field equipment for the next season.
• Carry out stock takes and assist in the procurement of field equipment and supplies.
• Provide opportunities for staff recreation as approved by the Field Operations Manager or Station Leader.
• Prepare and consign additional food and equipment requested by parties in the field through the Field Party Request system.
• Undertake general duties as required by the Field Operations Manager and/or Station Leader, which could include building maintenance, decorating, cargo work, fuelling and loading of aircraft.

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• Active alpine mountaineer with extensive experience of technical mountaineering in a broad range of remote environments.
• Proficient in safely leading others on steep snow, rock and ice.
• Experience to safely conduct groups across glaciated terrain.
• Able to identify hazards and apply appropriate mitigations and safe systems of work.
• Able to dynamically assess and manage risk in rapidly changing situations.
• Good computer literacy required, basic word processing (report writing).
• Problem‑solving abilities, both practical and theoretical.
• Able to organise people and equipment.
• Effective communication with team and base (sometimes remotely e.g., over HF Radio).
• Able to work individually and as part of a team.
• Able to work as part of a small remote team for extended periods of time.
• Medical fitness to work in Antarctic conditions.
• Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor.
• Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor.
• Experience of exploratory expeditions to remote areas.
• Experience of polar travel.
• Practical skills/background.
• Experience responding to incidents and developing contingency plans in remote environments.
• Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery.
• Teaching experience, particularly delivering outdoor skills training.
• Understanding of group dynamics and conflict resolution.
• Previous experience of physically demanding work.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re‑run security clearance as required during employment.

About Us

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world‑class research, skills and business‑led innovation.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

About the Team

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) delivers and enables world‑leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Our skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through our extensive logistic capability and know‑how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. British Antarctic Survey is a component of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation.

If you are looking for an opportunity to work with amazing people in one of the most unique places in the world, then British Antarctic Survey could be for you. We aim to attract the best people for those jobs.